Fenerbahçe intends to take its first steps in the transfer market precisely in the attacking line. The Canaries are simultaneously evaluating three major forwards: Jonathan David, Dušan Vlahović and Aleksandar Mitrović. The Canadian David has asked the Istanbul club for a signing bonus of 12 million dollars, while the board is waiting for Juventus’ final decision on Vlahović. At the same time the Serbian Mitrović, who is preparing to leave Al-Hilal, is also among the priority targets.
Seeking to fill the squad with new stars, Fenerbahçe’s management has declared the centre-forward position the main priority of the summer window. According to the newspaper Sabah, these three top-class strikers sit at the very top of the shortlist.
Jonathan David, whose contract with Lille has expired, is demanding a three-year deal and a fixed annual salary of 10 million dollars. Yet the stumbling block could be the one-off payment the 25-year-old insists on: a signing fee of 12 million dollars. The player is deliberately biding his time, waiting for offers from Europe’s leading leagues, and Fenerbahçe has already put forward what it calls its final offer.
The situation with Dušan Vlahović is also developing rapidly. Even before the end of the season the Serbian was linked with a move to Istanbul, and now all eyes are on the Turin club. According to the Italian press, Fenerbahçe sporting director Damien Comolli will meet the striker and his agent, and the parties could give the green light to parting ways with Juventus. If, however, the 25-year-old forward secures in England a two-year contract worth a total of 38.8 million dollars after taxes, he will head to the Premier League; otherwise Fenerbahçe remains the frontrunner. An additional factor is the player’s transfer fee, expected to reach 40 million dollars.
The third name on the list is Aleksandar Mitrović. Although the 30-year-old Serbian still has a year left on his deal with Al-Hilal, he is determined to return to Europe and is openly waiting for an offer from Fenerbahçe. The Saudi club, however, does not want to let its goal-getter leave until it finds a full replacement.
Thus the Istanbul side continues its intensive search for a leading striker. The board emphasizes that, regardless of whose signature first adorns the contract in the office at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, the new forward must become the linchpin of Fenerbahçe’s revamped attacking philosophy and bring the club the long-awaited trophies both in Turkey and beyond.
